Author's note: well, readers, I have designed this chapter to tug at ye heartstrings…enjoy! And just so you know…I will revisit the present (because, remember kiddies, she's in the past) throughout this story. (Thanks to a full-of-questions reviewer! Thanks so much for inspiring me there!)

Author's note 2: I surely hope I haven't confused anyone with that written above…

Chapter Four: Ashley's Nightmare

"Oh, I have faith in you."

Ashley yawned for the umpteenth time that night while she and Will played cards in the kitchen.

The game was poker and she had already beaten him several times over. Now, however, she was sleepy.

Getting up, she stretched and yawned…again. "I'm going to sleep, now. Goodnight, Will." She said, "And thanks for playing so many games with me, it was fun."

"You're very welcome." Will smiled at her. "Goodnight Ashley."

Ashley walked into the cabin she knew as hers and flopped down on the bed. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow.

A dark, gloomy mist surrounded Ashley. It was eerie and chilled her down to the bone.

"Ashley, love…you have to be careful." A familiar voice called out to her.

"Dad? Is that you?"

"Yes, darling…"

Ashley's heart filled with joy. He finally knew who she was! "Oh, dad…it was so scary when you didn't know me…where are you?"

"Where you can't follow…"

Ashley was confused. "Dad? What does…"

Before she could finish her sentence, a flash, like that of lightning, lit everything around her.

Her father was revealed, sword drawn while a huge hellish-looking monster with tentacles and hundreds of sharp teeth appeared.

Ashley tried to move so she could save him, but her feet were planted on the ground. Nor could she scream. All she could do was watch in horror as the beast consumed her father…

Suddenly, she found her voice. "DAD! NO!"

Ashley awoke with a start. What was that all about?

Her heart was pounding and her little body shook with terror. Never had she had such a horrific dream.

Even thought it was simply a nightmare, Ashley got out of bed and ran down to where Jack's cabin was. She slowly pushed the door open and peered inside.

Ashley sighed with relief when she saw him sprawled on his bunk fast asleep. He was safe and sound.

However, the images of the dream nagged at her, as if they were making sure she wouldn't forget them.

Ashley felt the cold terror grip her once again. Never had a nightmare left her this shaken. But, it had seemed so real…as if it had happened or would happen…

Ashley looked down the dark hallway leading to her cabin and let out a shaky breath. Oh, how she didn't want to walk back there and deal with her nightmare all alone and in the dark. Unfortunately, she didn't have any other option.

Ashley turned back to Jack. An ache to simply crawl into her father's arms and stay there came over her. It was so powerful that she'd taken at least three steps towards his bunk before she'd caught herself.

He doesn't know you, remember? And to top it off, he thinks you're either insane or a liar…

Slowly and reluctantly, she walked all the way down said hallway until she was once again in her room. Ashley climbed back under the covers and laid there awake. There was no way she'd be able to sleep.

Instead, she wished she'd see her mother again. Perhaps she remembered her…

The Mist: Present Day…

Elizabeth's eyes widened as she watched her daughter fade then disappear completely before her eyes.

"Ashley! Ashley!" She frantically patted the bed, still in disbelief at what she had just witnessed.

Getting up, she looked around the room. There was no sign of Ashley anywhere.

"What just happened? Where are you?" Elizabeth ran out of the cabin. Whenever she encountered a crew member, she asked them if they had seen her. All the answers she got were negative.

"I 'aven't seen 'er since ye took 'er inta yer cabin." Once of them said, before returning to his duties.

More terrified than ever, Elizabeth went out onto the deck of The Mist, despite the angry weather. She had to tell Jack.

"Jack! Jack!" she shouted, trying to make herself heard over the roar of the wind.

His eyes immediately met hers, meaning he had heard her.

"Elizabeth! Go below! It's not safe to be out here, love!"

"But Jack," she said earnestly, "Ashley's missing!"

Now that caught the Captain's attention. "Missing?"

Elizabeth nodded, tears now stinging her eyes. Upon seeing this, Jack barked orders at Gibbs to take over steering the ship whilst he went below with his wife. Gibbs nodded and did just that.

Once they were below, Jack took her in his arms to comfort her.

"Alright, love…Tell ol' Jack the whole story."

"We were in her cabin, watching the storm outside, when she literally just…vanished into thin air…right in front of me!"

Elizabeth watched a variety of emotions play across her husband's face before he went back outside and shouted a name Elizabeth remembered but wasn't sure she'd ever hear again.

"Set the course to Tia Dalma's!"

And within minutes, that's where The Mist was headed.

Elizabeth's mind raced with questions as she stood below deck, feeling the ship change course beneath her feet.

Where was her daughter? Was she hurt? Was she scared? And most importantly, would she and Jack be able to find her and bring her home?

Hopefully, the mysterious woman they were going to visit would be able to answer those questions.

"Don't worry, love. We'll get her back." Jack whispered to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. Elizabeth leaned into his embrace, needing the comfort it gave her.

For a long period of time they stood there, neither knowing the exact length of time nor did it matter. All that mattered was that they had to get their daughter back.

Tia Dalma's Hut: Present Day…

"You've come to find yer daughter 'dis time, eh?" Tia said the moment she saw the two of them.

Elizabeth's eyes went wide. "How did you know?"

Tia Dalma only smiled. "She is not where you are."

Jack and Elizabeth exchanged puzzled looks. "What does that mean?" Jack asked.

Tia folded her arms and raised her eyebrows at Jack. "I will not tell ye more 'till ya pay me."

Jack, having been prepared for this, set various rings and other assorted jewellery on the table. Tia happily scooped them up and set them aside.

Sitting down, Tia became serious. "Your daughter was sent back in time. She is in da past."

"What? But that's impossible!" Elizabeth refused to believe what she was hearing. People didn't time travel! Especially not her daughter!

"I don' lie. She is in da past." Tia put emphasis on her every word. It was clear she didn't like having what she told others questioned.

"Then how do we get to her? How do we bring her home?" Elizabeth asked, deciding to humour the woman.

Tia smiled in a way that made Elizabeth wary of her. "Ye go da same way she did."

Before either of them could ask her a question, she held up a hand silencing them both.

"Now, ye must know dat ye may not be able ta land in da same spot she be in, but ye will be in da right time."

Tia closed her eyes and raised her arms above her head. Whispers filled the couple's ears. At first they were soft, but slowly they grew louder and louder.

Over and over they repeated, "Destiny, destiny, destiny..."

That was the last thing either of them heard before a falling sensation overcame them both.

Tortuga…

There officially couldn't be a rowdier place on Earth Ashley decided as she watched drunken pirates and women with barely anything covering their chests as it were, parade about the island.

Jack, or dad as she still stubbornly called him, was purposefully striding towards a tavern with Will and Gibbs in tow.

Ashley followed closely behind at the same time avoiding the occasional empty or partially full bottle of what she knew was rum that was thrown in her direction.

Once they were inside, Gibbs sat down beside a discarded table and called out that he was recruiting crew members for the Pearl. It would be amazing if anyone heard him for the behaviour that was going on outside was going on inside aswell.

Four people did, however. Including a man that Gibbs appeared to recognize.

"So am I worthy to serve under Captain Jack Sparrow?" The man said his name was if it was something foul in his mouth.

He was dressed in dirty "eunuch" clothes and, like Will, his beard was unkempt and so was his hair. What grudge did this man have against her dad? Ashley wondered.

She turned to where her dad was trying to hide behind a plant. The man noticed too, apparently and raised his gun at Jack.

"You're hired!" Jack said, backing away.

Before he could fire a shot, yet another fight broke out and someone clocked him on the head with a rum bottle. Sighing with relief, Ashley took off after her dad, who was making his escape from the tavern.

"Who was that?" she asked once they had gotten back outside.

"That was someone who doesn't like me very much." Jack answered and strode back to his ship, where his crew was loading supplies to take with them.

"Captain Sparrow!" a voice called out.

"Come to join my crew, lad? Welcome aboard!" Jack said without turning around.

"I'm here to find the man I love." The voice announced.

Jack, thinking that whoever was talking to him was a man, said, "I'm deeply flattered, but my only love is the sea."

"Meaning William Turner, Captain Sparrow."

That's when Jack and Ashley both whirled around shocked.

"Elizabeth?" Jack turned again, facing Gibbs. "Hide the rum!" Then turned back, facing Elizabeth once again.

But it wasn't him she was looking at anymore, it was Ashley.

"Who is that? You haven't stooped to kidnapping children, have you Jack?"

Bugger! Ashley thought bitterly. Her mom didn't know her either! This was the second huge blow she'd had to her heart since she'd gotten into this mess.

Sighing in defeat, Ashley decided to introduce herself. "My name is Ashley."

"Nice to meet you." Elizabeth smiled warmly at her.

It was that moment that Will appeared carrying a large barrel.

"Elizabeth!" he exclaimed excitedly.

"Will!" Elizabeth said his name with the same enthusiasm.

Will put down the barrel and took Elizabeth into his arms and then kissed her.

Man, Ashley thought, the day was just filled with shock after shock. First, her father didn't know who she was, then neither did her mother, and now she witnessed her mom kissing another man. What was this world coming to?

Ashley, finally reaching her emotional limit, ran onto the ship and right into Jack's cabin. Even now it was still a safe haven for her.

Once she got there, she threw herself down on the bed and cried…hard.

Meanwhile, outside, all three of them were puzzled as to what had warranted Ashley's actions.

"What was that all about?" Elizabeth asked.

"Well, as far as I know, Ashley thinks Jack is her father but according to Gibbs and Jack of course, Jack has no children…"

"Then she claimed you were mother." Jack added.

Elizabeth's eyes widened. "Now I know that's not right…"

Jack nodded. "That's exactly what I said to the little one, love."

"I guess we'll have to figure out where she got these ideas from and then find a way to tell her they are not true." Will sighed, his heart going out to the little girl. Though he'd known Ashley a short time, he'd grown fond of her and didn't like the idea of her being upset.

With that in mind, he headed aboard followed by Elizabeth and Jack.